Separable slide fastener assembling machine



1943- M. WINTERHALTER 2,335,034

SEPARABLE SLIDE FASTENER ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 23, 1943. M; WINTERHALTER 2,335,034

I I I SEPARABLE SLIDE FASTENER ASSEMBLING MACHINE 1 Filed March 22., 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet z n ma a A MM 2,35 MW 0 mm V l 1 2 2 w Al/A/l/l/ '44 a 0% WWVVVNVI W v \t. 7 mm) u w mm n w my 1 mm F 1943- M. WINTERHALTER SEPARABLE SLIDE FASTENER ASSEMBLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 22, 1941 Patented Nov. 23, 1943 OFFICE SEPARABLE sum; Fas'mmca ASSEMBLING MACHINE Martin Winterhaiter, Morcote-Castello, near zano, Switzerland.

Application March 22,3941, Serial No. 384,710

13 Claims (01. 153 -1) My invention relates to processes and machinesv for assembling the fastener elements of a separable slide fastener with the stringer of the fastener.)

The invention will be best understood from the following description of a process and machine according to the invention, when read in the light of the accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine according to the invention, with parts omitted;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line with parts omitted;

. 7 Figs. 3 and '4 illustrate details of construction,

being sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig.2

on an enlarged scale; V

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, with parts omitted;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections onthe lines 66 and l--l of Fig. 5, with parts omitted; and

2-2 of Fig. 1,

Figs. 8 to 11 more or less diagrammatically illustrate the operation of placing the fasteners m and securing them to the stringer, Fig. 8 being an approximate development of the notched rings aereinafter referred to with the fastener elenents in assembled relation therewith and the atringer, and Figs. 9 to 11 being approximately :ections on the lines 9-9, ill-Ill and H-l I of Pig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, the machine illusrated comprises a suitable support on which is nounted a pair of opposed fixed blocks l. Rotatlbly mounted in each block is a spindle 3, the ends of the spindles projecting fromthe opposed 'aces ofthe blocks and there fixedly carrying 'otary disk-like parts 5 (Figs; 2 and'3). As hown, the rotary parts 5 fixedly carry peripheral ings 1 the outer edges of whichproject beyond he opposed faces 9 of the parts 5, as clearly hown in Fig. 3. As shown, the spindles 3 are .t a wide angle to each other close to 180 degrees 0 that the facing outer edges of the two rings are at a relatively narrow angle to each other.

By such construction corresponding points on' he outer faces of the rings, when the latter otate, gradually approach each other to a point I minimum separation at the upper portions f the rings and then gradually recede from each ther. Conveniently, as indicated in Fig. 2, the

oint of minimum separation may be at an angle from th vertical, with the members 5 rotating 1 the direction of the arrow shown in said figure. For rotating the disk-like members 5 and the with an arcuate series of notches 23,

rings 1 carried by them, the former are shown as provided with annular series teeth ll. With thesegear teeth mesh plnions l3 fixedly carried on the ends of spindles l5 rotatably mounted in the blocks l. The left hand spindle I5, as shown in Fig. 1, is driven by an electric motor I! through the meshing spur gears of peripheral gear l8, while the left handspindle l5 drives the right hand spindle i5 through the meshing bevel gears l9. For resisting longitudinal thrusts on the spindles 3 the blocks i may carry one or more roller disks 20 bearing against the sides of the parts 5 opposite the projecting edgesof the rings Q 1. These roller disks, as shown, are J'ournalled on spindles 2| carried by the blocks, and are,

received in slots 22 in the faces of the blocks.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention each of \the facing edges of the rings 1 is formed as shown, extend throughout the entire circumferences of the rings. The edges'of the rings at the spaces between the notches 23, as illustrated, are notched circumferentially of the rings, as shown at 25, theseveral notches 25 on each ring operatively forming agroove extending throughout the length of the series of notches 23.

The stringer S with which the fastener ele-- ments F are to be assembled is, as illustrated, provided at one longitudinal edge with a bead 29, this stringer and its bead being formed conveniently of textile material, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. A length of stringer is guided by the fixed slotted guide 3i .(Figs. 2, 4 and 8) into operative relation with the groove formed by the notches 25, so that through a considerable are at the upper portions of the rings 1, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, opposite sides of the edge bead 29 of the stringer will be received inthe' opposite notches 25, as shown in Fig. 9. V

The fastener elements F fed tothe stringer, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 7, 8 and 9, have spread apart jaws 33 projecting from a head 35, which latter carries a projection 31, the ends of the projections 31 of the elements oneach stringer in the assembled fastener being adapted to be ments toward the notches 23 in the rings 1 while the latter are advancing the stringer. As shown which series,

(Figs. 5, 6 and 7), the guide conveyer is in the form of a tube of rectangular cross-section, the long dimension of the rectangle being approximately the over-all width of the spread apart legs of the fastener elements, and the short dimension the thickness of those legs. At one side the wall of the tube is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 43 opening into its interior, into which slot extend the projections 31 of the fastener elements within the tube, as shown in Fig. 6.

The fastener elements F in a well known way may be fed from a hopper, or from a tool or machine which stamps out the elements, to the upper end of the tubular guide conveyer 4| with the open sides of the legs downward, so that they will gravitate downward in a row, toward the lower end'of the conveyer. Above the notched rings 1 is shown a wheel 45 having thin teeth 41, the teeth being adapted to enter the slot 43 in the conveyer and engage with the upper ends of the adjacent fas-' tener element so as topush those below the wheel forciblytoward the notched rings 1 and cause them to enter the notches 23 as the latter successively come into alignment with the vertical row of fastener elements. I

The wheel 45, as shown, is mounted on a spindle 49 rotatably carried in a bracket 5| (Fig- I) mounted on the guide conveyer 4|. This spindle may be driven in any suitable way as, for example, by either of the belt pulleys 53 fixedly carried on the ends of the spindle.

The wheel 45 preferably is driven by frictionfrom the spindle 49. As illustrated (Figs. 6 and 7), for this purpose the spindle carries a fixed collar 55 at one side of the wheel and a fixed collar 51 at the opposite side, there being interposed between the collars and the wheel friction plates 59. Conveniently the collar 51 may be recessed as shown at 6|, and in this recess may be placed a coiled compression. spring 63 which bears against the adjacent friction plate 59, the spring being Fig. 11.

under such tension as to afford the desired degree of friction between the plates and the wheel.

Preferably the wheel is rapidly driven, and theoretically at least remains stationary as the end of the fastener element slides over the space between the notches 23 in the rings 1, although the degree of rotation employed, being such as to feed approximately 1500 fasteners per minute if desired, is such that the wheel practically continuously rotates.

When the fastener element is pushed into the notch 23, as shown in Fig. 9, the ends of the jaws strike the bead 290i the stringer, and the rotating wheel causes the fastener element to be forced over the bead into the position shown by Fig. 10, the upper end of the fastener element projecting more or less above the outer 7 surfaces of the rings 1. Adjacentthe guide member 4| is placed a stationary, block Bl (Figs. 2 and 5) the lower curved surface 69 of which the projecting upper ends of the fastener elements are adapted to contact. This surface at its right hand end as viewed in Fig. 5 is spaced from the outer surfaces of the rings 1, and is inclined towardthose surfaces as it progresses toward the left so as gradually to push the fastener elements into the notches 23 and brin their ends 65 into flush relation with the outer surfaces of the rings. By this tapered construction of the surface 59 shock is avoided when the fastener elements strike that surface, and the elements will be gradually pushed over the head 29 as they move from the position of parts shown in Fig. 10 toward that shown in Fig.11, and will Preferably the surface 59 is so shaped as to bring the outer ends of the fastener elements in flush relation with the outer surfaces ,of the rings 1 prior to the jaws being materially closed on the stringer. As will be clear from .Figs. 8 to 11. the depths of the notches 23 which receive the jaws 33 bf the fastener elements are such as properly to close the jaws upon the stringers b the time the parts are in the position shown by This closing operation is gradual, and thus permits the device to be operated at high speed. Further, the jaw closing pressure is applied for a considerable period as practically the notches on the rings 1 are at their point of minimum separation'through a considerable arc.

It will also be observed from Fig. 8 that'when the notches 23 are at their point of minimum separation, and while they are approaching that point, the fastener elements are closely confined by the walls of the notches, with the result that the fastener elements will be uniformly spaced along the stringer. This result is secured by feeding the fastener elements into the notches when the latter are spread apartsufliclently to receive the jaws butnot the projections 31 of the elements, as will be clear from Fig. 8. Then as the notches come together and out of angular disalignment the projections 31 enter the notches. If the projections entered the notches at the same time as the jaws with the notches in angular disalignment the fastener elements would be loosely held in the notches when the latter are moved out of such disalignment, and as a consequence uniform spacing of the elements along the stringer would not be secured.

It will be'further understood that the gradual application of the closing forces to the jaws of the fastener members could not be secured'with notches on the periphery of wheels in the same plane unless the wheels were of such enormously large diameter as would render them impractical for use, but that this result can be readily obtained with a machine constructed according to the present invention with relatively small wheels, wheels about 8 inches in diameter in a machine according to the invention being capable of applying fasteners at the rate of approximately 1500 per minute.

It will be understood that, within the scope of e the appended claims, wide deviations'may be made from the forms of the invention described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1. A machine for assembling separable fastener elements with a stringer having, in combination, a pair of facing rotary parts the axes of rotation of which are at a relatively wide angle to each other, means for rotating said parts at the same speed in the same direction whereby points on a moving portion of one gradually approach and recede from corresponding facing points on the other along paths at arelatively narrow angle to each other, said parts having complementary facing arcuate series of spaced notches coaxial with their axes of rotation, means for guiding a length of stringer between said two series of notches along portions of the arcs of said series adjacent their point of minimum separation. means for successively placing fastener elements in said notches at a point where said series are 7 spaced apart sufficiently to cause one edge portion of the fastener element to bereceived in a notch of one series and its opposite edgein an opposite notch of the other series, which point is at a position where said opposite notches in which the fastener element is so placed are spaced apart more than the minimumspacing between said series, whereby continued rotation of said notches from said point toward the point of minimum separation of said series will cause the bottom walls thereof to move toward each other and operate on the fasteners gradually to deform them into secured relation with the stringer.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which the means for .placing the fastener elements in the notches is adapted to place fastener elements having open jaws over the edge portion of a stringer with the jaws straddling said portion, the said walls of the notches which operate upon the fastener elements being adapted to close said jaws whereby to clamp the fastener elements to the stringer.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which each series of notches is formed with means operatively providing agroove for receiving an edge bead on the stringer, the means for placing the fastener elements in the notches being adapted to place fastener elements having open jaws on the stringer with the jaws straddling the head, the said walls of the notches which operate upon the fastener elements being adapted to close said jaws whereby to clamp the fastener elements to the stringer.

4. A machine for assembling separable fastener elements with a stringer provided with an edge bead having, in combination, means for placing fastener elements having open jaws over the edge portion of a stringer having such bead with the jaws straddling said head, a. pair of rotary parts, means for passing,the stringer and fastener elements between said rotary parts for causing the latter to operate upon said jaws for closing them upon the stringer, means operating to press the fastener elements toward the stringer after said jaws are placed in such straddling relation therewith, and means forengaging the bead of the stringer for holding the latter against transverse movement relative to said rotary parts while the fastener elements are being so pressed.

5. A machine according to claim 4 in which the means for holding the stringer against transverse movement comprises a groove on one of said rotary parts for receivingthe edge bead of the stringer, and the means for pressing the fastener elements toward the stringer comprises a part providing an inclined stationary surface spaced from said groove, with which surface the portions of the fastener elementsopposite the jaws thereofare adapted slidingly to contact.

6. A machine for assembling separable fastener elements with a stringer provided with an edge bead having, in combination, means for placing fastener elements having open jaws .over the edge portion of a stringer having such bead with the jaws straddling said bead, a pair of rotary parts presenting facing portions, means for passing the stringer and fastener elements between said facing portions of said rotary parts for causing said facing portions to operate on said jaws for closing them on the stringer, the axes of rotation of said rotary parts being at an angle to each other close to 180 degrees whereby said facing portions of said parts are at a relatively narrow angle to each other, each rotary part operatively having a groove for receiving a side portion of said bead, and means for pressing the fastener elements toward said edge portion of said stringer after said elements are placed in straddling relation with said bead.

7. A machine according to claim 6 in which the means for pressing the fastener elements toward the beaded edge ortion of the stringer comprises means providing a surface spaced from such edge, with which surface the portions of said elements opposite the jaws thereof are adapted slidingly to contact. 8. A machine for assembling separable fastener elements with a stringer having, in combination, a pair of rotary parts the axes of rotation of which are at a relatively wide angle to each other, which parts longitudinally of their axes face each other, each of said parts being formed with a series of notches coaxial with its axis of rotation, the series on one part facing those on the other, the spaces between said notches of each series being slotted jointly to present an interrupted groove adapted to receive one side of an edge bead of a stringer between saidseries;.1 means:for placing fastener elements havingspre'ad jaws in said notches with one jaw in one notch ofa pair of opposite notches and the other jaw in the opposite notch of such pair and with the jaws straddling the stringer, said means operating to so place said elements in said notches. at such rotative positions of the latter that further rotation of said notcheswilliclose said jaws on said stringer; and means providing'astationary inclined 'surface, with which surface the'portions of said elements opposite the jaws thereof are adapted slidingly to contact after the elements are placed in said notches, said surface being so spaced from said notches as to cause the elements to be pressed toward said bead.

9. A machine for applying to a stringer separable fasteneraelements having openjaws extending from a head" provided with a lateral projection transverse to the plane of said jaws having, in combination, a pair of spaced facing rotary parts the axes of rotation of which are at a relatively wide angle to each other, said parts having means forming a pair of facing arcuate series of uniformly spaced notches coaxial with their axes of rotation, the widths of which notches lengthwise ofsaidseries are substantially equal to the thicknesses-of-the fastener elements at the projections thereof, the notches of one series opening toward those of the other, each series being of the same radius, and the two series being in proximity with each other attheir point of minimum separation; means for rotating said. parts at the same speed'in the same direction so that notches on one series of notches gradually approach and recede from corresponding facing notches'o'n the other along paths at a relatively narrow angle to eachv other; means for guiding a length of stringer between said series along portions of their arcs adjacent their point of minimum separation; means for successively placing fastener elements in said notches with the jaws of said elements in straddling relation to arr-edge of the stringer so guided at a point where said series are spaced apart sufficiently to cause one jaw of the fastener element to be received in a notch of one series and the other ,jaw thereof in an opposite notch of the other series with the projection of the fastener element Lying between notches, which point is at a position where bottoms of said opposite notches in which the re than at the point of minimum separation hetween said series and more than the maximum whereby by continued rotation of said ones from said position toward the point of separation of the series will-cause said which the fastener element is placed ne element and'gradually clo them into I eiemping engagement with the-strifiger.

A machine according to claim 9 in which the means providing the two series of notches is termed as to provide a slot in the space between each adjacent pair of notches of each series,

series jointly present aninterrupted aroua groove for receiving one side of an edge bead the stringer guided between the two series adjacent their point of minimum separation, which head the fastener elements are placed .voov-e for receiving one side of an edge a of the stringer guided between the two series scent their point of minimum'separation, over which bead thefastener elements are placed with til 1' jaws stradding said bead, the machine fur having means for engaging the ends of the u oving fastener elements opposite the jaws therefor pr ssing said elements toward said grooves they are so placed on the stringer.

12., A machine for applyingfastener elements a stringer having, in combination, a pair of adjacent facing parts rotatable about axes at a.

, relatively wide angle to each other, said parts Wativeiyproviding a pair of facing closely adarcuate series of uniformly spaced notches n associatedpair of closely adjacent facing -ves, which series and grooves are coaxial with e axes of rotation of said parts; means for roes and oif pOsite points on said twofgrooves moveinto proximity at the point of minimum is Watches to engage with the open" islet connects said notchesso that the slots.

series jointly present an interrupted element is so placed are spaced apigt h of the fastener element at the open jaws sang said parts at the same speed in the same ction, whereby oppositeJQtCh-eS of the two i separation or said series and grooves and then along paths ata relatively narrow angle 2 means for guiding a length of heaving a longitudinally extending bead 1E3 said grooves at a position where the assaosa tobe'received between them, whereby rotative movement of opposite points on said grooves from 'said'position toward the point of minimum sep aration of said grooves will close the latter on said bead and thus cause a portion of the length of the stringer to follow portions of the arcs of said series of notches; and means for successively placing fastener elements having open jaws on an'edge of the stringer, with the jaws straddling said'edge and with one jaw of each element received in a notch of one of said'series and the other jaw thereof in an opposite notch or the otherseries, at a position where said opposite notches are spaced apart sufiiciently to so receive said jaws, whereby rotation of said opposite notches from the last mentioned position toward the point of minimum separation of said series will cause the bottom walls of said notches to operate on said jaws to close them on the stringer. 13. A machine for applying fastener elements to a stringer having, in combination, a pair of adjacent facing parts rotatable about axes at a relatively wide angle to each other, said parts operatively providing a pair of facing closely adjacent arcuate' series of uniformly space notches coaxial with the axesof rotation of said parts with a slotconnecting each oLadjacent notches of each series so that said slots jointly form a pair of facing interrupted arcuate grooves; means for rotating said parts at the same speed in the same direction, whereby opposite notches of the two series and opposite points on said two grooves will move into proximity at the point of minimum separation of said series and grooves and then separate along paths at a relatively narrow angle toeachother; means for guiding-a length of stringer lia ingeanwdgeioead befiveen said series of notches at a position where said grooves are sufficiently separated to permit the bead to be received between them, whereby rotative movement or opposite points onsaid grooves from said position toward the point of minimum separation of said grooves will close the latter on said head and thus cause a portion, of the length of the stringer to follow portions of the arcs of said series of notches; and means for successively placing fastener elements having open jaws on the beaded edge of the stringer so guided, with the jaws stradding said bead and with one jaw of each element received in a notch of one of said series and the other jaw thereof inan opposite notch of the otth er series at rposition ,where said -cmposite' fo ches are spaced apart 'sufficiently to so'receivesaid jaws, whereby rotation of said opposite notches from said last mentioned position toward the point of minimum separation of said series will cause the bottom walls of said notches to operate on said jaws to close them on the stringer.

a? WINTERHAL'I'ER.

CERTIFICATE (F CORRECTION- Patent No. 2,555,051 November 2;, 191g.

' mmu WINTERHALTER.

It is hereoy certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line i5, claim 1;, for "head" read "bead"; page first column,

3 line 59, claim 12, for "heaving" read -haying-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this he day of February, A. 1). 191m.

/ Henry Van Arsdale,

\Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

